Lubricator.



J. L. ALLEN.

LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION men JUNE 24, 1914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

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1" me o %W m, 3- 7/4 JOHN L. ALLEN, or MaNvILLn, nnonn IsL'aNn.

LUBRICATOR.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

. yatented July it, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 24, 1914. Serial M1397.

To all whom it may concern "Be it known that 1, JOHN L. ALLEN, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Manville, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is aspecification.

'This'"invention relates to lubricators ofsuch as oil or the like isadapted to pass, and

to provide a passage-way between the two through which a portion of theoil in its passage through the conductor may enter the receptacle andequalize the pressure therein, and to force the graphite contained inthe receptacle through said passage-way to'be picked up by and mixedwith the flowing oil and be conducted thereby to the parts to belubricated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vent opening leadingfrom the upper portion of the receptacle into the conductor. seas toprevent the generating of undue or excessive pressure in the upperportion ofthe receptacle, which would have a tendency to force theliquid rapidly from the chamber. It is found in practice that undernormal conditions the fiow is verygradualand a full receptacle wouldlast a matter of two or three days, but when an undue pressure isgenerated in the receptacle the contents may be forced out in about anhour or two.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sh t-ofi' valve insaid receptacle for controlling the discharge conduit and also a valvefor controlling the vent open- 1ng.. 1

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as willbemore fully described and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1- is a diagrammatic viewillustrating one I method of connecting my improved lubri-.

cater to the main steam pipe of an engine. Fig. 2- is a sectionalelevation of my improved lubricator. Fig. 3- is a sectional View on line33 of Fig. 2. v

Referring to the drawings 10 designates the receptacle for containing anon-liquid lubricant such as graphite, or the like, the same beingconstructed in. the form of a cup with an opening at its topand a cap orplug 11 threaded therein. In the drawing I have also illustrated an oilchannel or passage-way 14 formed in a boss 15 .integral with the side ofthe receptacle adjacent to the chamber, the axis of this-channel beingsubstantially parallel with that of the chamber. The upper end of thisboss is threaded as at 16 to receive an oil conductor pipe,

or tube 17, and the lower end of the boss is threaded as at 18 intowhich a check valve 19 of any suitable construction may be screwedthrough which the oil supply function. Adjacent the bottom 20 of thereceptacle I have formed a threaded openpasses on its way to perform itslubricating I ing 21 into the oil channel 14, and into this opening Ihave screwed a bearing 22, in which is mounted the valve stem 23threaded at 24: near its inner end and the valve 25 on the stem isadapted to be moved to close the aperture or conduit 26 leading from thereceptacle near the lower portion thereof into the conductor I l.

A feature of my improved invention is the provision of a ventopening inthe upper portion of the receptacle to prevent the formation-of an unduepressure in the upper end of the lubricant receptacle. To accomplishthis I have provided an opening 27- leading through the side wall of thereceptacle into the conductor 14, and have provided a valve 28 adaptedto be screwed by means of the handle 29, and the stem 30 to close theopening 27 when desired.

It is found in the practical use of my improved lubricating device thatin some cases Where the pump which forces the oil through the conductor14 is not submerged in the oil it often times forces a quantity of airalong with the oil in -which case the air in passing the opening 26 willshunt-o5 into the receptacle and upon rising to the top thereof create apressure therein suiiicient to force the contents of the receptacle'outthrough the opening 26 in a very short time, rendering action of thedevice very diflicult to control. I have entirely obviated thisdifliculty by providing the vent opening 27 which permits this air inthe top of the receptacle to pass freely outward and back into theconductor pipe and so pass on with the lubricant and thus prevent anexcessive pressure forming in the receptacle and forcing the contentsout too rapidly. In some cases when there is no air in the system thevalve 28 may be closed, if desired.

In practice my improved lubricator may be attached in any convenientmanner to automatically mix graphite or other non-liquid lubricant withoil and. supply this mixture to the parts to be lubricated. In Fig. 1 ofthe drawing I have shown the apparatus as connected to supply thecombined oil and graphite 'to the main steam supply pipe 31 to an enginecylinder 32. In this device the oil is placed in the cup 33 and isforced, by means of the usual pump 34: actuated from the moving parts ofthe engine, through the oil conducting pipe 35 up past the graphitereceptacle 10. The valve 25 to the graphite chamber is now opened and avery small portion of the .oil, in traveling upward through itsconductor, works its way in through the opening 26 and the body of thegraphite to the top or above the same, and so equalizes the pressure inthis cham ber whereby the gravity of the graphite causes it to settleand work slowly outward through this aperture where it is picked up bythe flowing oil and carried on as a mixture into the main steam pipe 31.By placing the opening at the lower end of the receptacle practicallyall the contents thereof may be forced out each time it is charged, andthe quantity of the flow through this aperture may be nicely controlledand regulated by simply adjusting the valve 25.

y my improved construction it will be seen that the oil conductor iswholly on the exterior of the graphite chamber and is so arranged thatthe communication between' the graphite receptacle and the conductor maybe shut ofi' by the valve 25 whereby the cap of the graphite chamber maybe removed for inspection or repairs and filled or recharged withgraphite as often as may be desired without in any way interfering oraffecting the continuous flow of oil through valve that controls thevent in the one that controls the discharge conduit.

I claim: I 1

. 1. A lubricator comprising a receptacle for containing non-liquidlubricant, a conductor for a lubricating fluid adjacent said receptacle,an inlet opening leading, from said conductor to the lower portion ofsaid receptacle,'said receptacle being also provided with an air ventopening near its upper end leading into said conductor.

2. A lubricator comprising a receptacle for containing non-liquidlubricant, a conductor for a lubricating fluid adjacent said receptacle,an inlet opening leading from said conductor to the lower portion ofsaid receptacle, said receptacle being also provided withan air ventopening near its upper end and leading into said conductor, and

shut-off valves controlling said openings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

